Last month, Signature Travel Network hosted more than 1,100 travel consultants, 620 industry delegates and 465 travel companies at its annual Sales Meeting and Trade Show in Las Vegas. The three-day event at the MGM Grand Hotel was the first for 38 new member agencies representing 58 locations that joined the consortium in the past 18 months.
“We’re thrilled with this year’s attendance levels — 98 percent of Signature members were represented,” said Michelle Morgan, president of Signature Travel Network. “Signature is trending to drive double-digit increases over 2010. Yes, next year will be a challenge, but we are confident that Signature members are well positioned to compete in a tough marketplace, armed with powerful technology tools, strategic marketing and some of the industry’s strongest consumer privileges and supplier partnerships.”
New for this year, conference attendees had the ability to review the overall agenda and access their individual schedules through an Apple app and a mobile website for iPads, iPhones, Androids, BlackBerries and other smartphones. Users could view a listing of attending members as well as participating supplier partners, complete with trade show booth numbers and detailed contact information. The app/mobile site also included an instant messaging feature so that attendees could reach out to one another during the sales meeting.
Strategic partnerships continued to be a cornerstone of Signature’s marketing programs, and its popular partnership with Food Network will expand to include escorted land vacations next year. In addition, Anne Burrell, host of “Secrets of a Restaurant Chef,” will lead one of the Food Network at Sea cruises on Celebrity Silhouette in 2011.
The Details
Signature Travel Network
www.signaturetravelnetwork.com
